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But when they found out they were not eligible they applied for a different kind of visa, and six months later had heard nothing and left in limbo.

Now, they have been told that the visa application has been refused, and Gail has 28 days to leave the country and cannot return for a year.

As a result of the ordeal they missed Gail's daughter's wedding in Johannesburg last week.

Paul and Gail, who own a photography shop in Torquay, have been told that they can appeal the decision, but not from within the UK, and they cannot afford the process.

Paul said: "We are destroyed, ruined. We have invested our life savings over here, brought our entire household of furniture, bought the business and even our little pets, who are too old to make the flight back to South Africa where I am not welcome anyway as I am British."

Paul with the couple's dog, Chutney, and cat, Boy (Image: Gofundme)

They have made the difficult decision to sell their business, and move their lives back to South Africa, the place they left after being victims of violent crime.

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Paul said: "We pay our taxes, our National Insurance contributions, we serve the community, we are loved and love back.

"We are not refugees, slipping into the country, trying to take benefits. In fact, as a diabetic I haven't applied for any benefits, as I feel it's unfair. I work for a living and can provide my own finance, I would rather not become a burden on the state.

"We have been married for 13 years, and in those years have never spent more than a day or two apart. We work together, live together and love together."

Paul said that their plan was to apply for the family permit visa, and if that was declined it would give them time to build up an income to support the renewal of a spousal visa.

Gail has 28 days to leave the country and cannot return for a year (Image: Andy Styles)

He said that the business made a profit of £55,000 last year - over double what is required - but the couple didn't pay themselves a salary.

After hearing nothing for months the couple contacted their MP Sarah Wollaston, who told them that the visa had been refused.

Paul said: "It was never explained to us that an appeal might have to take place out of the UK. It was never explained there might be a ban imposed on returning.

"It was never explained that the family permit visa was such a difficult visa to have approved. It was never explained how the process of voluntarily leaving works.

"It was never explained that Gail can be deported, and it was never explained we have only 28 days to sell the business, move from our home, send everything back and leave."

The couple are raising funds to pay for their pets' transport to South Africa (Image: Gofundme)

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He added: "The Home Office state there is no reason why I can't go to South Africa and travel back every six months to get medication, and that there is no evidence of crime that has affected us while we there, so our mention of armed robberies and hijackings we suffered while we were there are unacceptable."

The couple have launched an online campaign to raise £3,000 to cover the cost of the appeal, and to pay for the transfer of their dog, Chutney, and cat, Boy, back to South Africa, the Herald Express reports.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Each visa application is carefully considered on its individual merits and in line with the rules.